Hanging apparatus and bracket for hanging a frame apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hanging apparatus that includes a frame apparatus that supports a display item and a bracket coupled thereto. The bracket may include a body portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion facilitating coupling of the bracket to the frame apparatus. The body portion may include a peripheral edge including first, second, and third edge portions. There may be a first slot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edge portion and a second slot extending form the third edge portion towards the first edge portion. Furthermore, there may be an aperture extending through the body portion that includes an entry section, first nesting section, and a second nesting section. The first slot and the first nesting section may be aligned along a first axis and the second slot and the second nesting section may be aligned along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/353,733, filed Jun. 23, 2016, the entirety of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a hanging apparatus and abracket for hanging a frame apparatus on a support surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People like to get creative when hanging art, which may includephotographs, pictures, mirrors, diplomas, canvas, tapestry, or the likefrom walls in their home. In some instances, to conserve wall space orwhere wall space is at a premium, it is desirable to hang frames ormirrors over a door. There exists a need for a hanging apparatus and abracket for hanging a frame apparatus that provides an end user withoptions to hang the apparatus on a wall or over a door.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a hanging apparatus that includes aframe apparatus that supports a display item and a bracket that iscoupled to the frame apparatus. The bracket may include a body portionand a mounting portion, the mounting portion facilitating coupling ofthe bracket to the frame apparatus. The body portion may include aperipheral edge including first, second, and third edge portions. Theremay be a first slot extending from the third edge portion towards thesecond edge portion and a second slot extending form the third edgeportion towards the first edge portion. Furthermore, there may be anaperture extending through the body portion that includes an entrysection, a first nesting section, and a second nesting section. Thefirst slot and the first nesting section may be aligned along a firstaxis and the second slot and the second nesting section may be alignedalong a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

In one aspect, the invention may be a hanging apparatus comprising: aframe apparatus configured to support a display item; a bracket coupledto the frame apparatus, the bracket comprising: a body portioncomprising a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral edgeextending between the first and second surfaces, the peripheral edgecomprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edgeportion extending between the first and second edge portions; a firstslot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edgeportion; and an aperture extending through the body portion from thefirst surface to the second surface, the aperture comprising an entrysection and a first nesting section extending from the entry sectiontowards the second edge portion; and wherein the first slot and thefirst nesting section of the aperture are aligned along a first axisthat is parallel to the first edge portion of the peripheral edge.

In another aspect, the invention may be a hanging apparatus comprising:a frame apparatus configured to support a display item; a bracketcoupled to the frame apparatus, the bracket comprising: a body portioncomprising a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral edgeextending between the first and second surfaces, the peripheral edgecomprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edgeportion extending between the first and second edge portions; a firstslot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edgeportion and being elongated along a first axis; a second slot extendingfrom the third edge portion towards the first edge portion and beingelongated along a second axis; and wherein the first and second axes areperpendicular.

In yet another aspect, the invention may be a bracket for hanging aframe apparatus on a support surface, the bracket comprising: a bodyportion comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheraledge extending between the first and second surfaces, the peripheraledge comprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a thirdedge portion; a first slot extending from the third edge portion towardsthe second edge portion; an aperture extending through the body portionfrom the first surface to the second surface, the aperture comprising anentry section and a first nesting section extending from the entrysection towards the second edge portion; and wherein the first slot andthe first nesting section of the aperture are aligned along a first axisthat is parallel to the first edge portion of the peripheral edge.

In a further aspect, the invention may be a bracket for hanging a frameapparatus on a support structure, the bracket comprising: a body portioncomprising a first surface, a second surface, and a peripheral edgeextending between the first and second surfaces, the peripheral edgecomprising a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edgeportion; a first slot extending from the third edge portion towards thesecond edge portion and being elongated along a first axis; a secondslot extending from the third edge portion towards the first edgeportion and being elongated along a second axis; and wherein the firstand second axes are perpendicular.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a hanging apparatus in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the hanging apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective exploded view of the hanging apparatus ofFIG. 1A illustrating a frame apparatus, two brackets, and twoover-the-door hanging members;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side and front perspective views, respectively, ofthe over-the-door hanging members of the hanging apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 4A-4D are front perspective, front, rear, and top views,respectively, of the bracket of the hanging apparatus of FIG. 1A inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4E is a front view of a bracket of the hanging apparatus of FIG. 1Ain accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is an exploded cross-sectional view of the hanging apparatustaken along line VB-VB of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the hanging apparatus taken alongline VB-VB of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a bracket of the hanging apparatus of FIG. 1Ain accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hanging apparatus taken alongline VB-VB of FIG. 1B utilizing the bracket of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a hanging apparatus in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded rear perspective view of the hanging apparatus ofFIG. 8 illustrating a frame apparatus, two brackets, and twoover-the-door hanging members;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the brackets of the hangingapparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of a hanging apparatus in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14A is an exploded rear perspective view of the hanging apparatusof FIG. 13 illustrating a frame apparatus, a glazing, a backer panel,two brackets, and two over-the-door hanging members;

FIG. 14B is an exploded rear perspective view of the hanging apparatusof FIG. 14A with the brackets coupled to the backer panel;

FIG. 15A is a front perspective view of the bracket of the hangingapparatus of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15B is a rear perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 15C is a front view of the bracket of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 15D is a rear view of the bracket of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 13with the components exploded;

FIG. 16B is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 16A with the bracketcoupled to the backer panel;

FIG. 16C is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 16A with the hangingapparatus in a fully assembled state;

FIG. 17 is a schematic illustrating one of the hanging apparatuses ofFIGS. 1, 8 and 13 hanging from a door; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic illustrating one of the hanging apparatuses ofFIGS. 1, 8 and 13 hanging from a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles ofthe present invention is intended to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entirewritten description. In the description of embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merelyintended for convenience of description and is not intended in any wayto limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as“lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,”“down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g.,“horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed torefer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawingunder discussion. These relative terms are for convenience ofdescription only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed oroperated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated assuch. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,”“interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structuresare secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectlythrough intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigidattachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated byreference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the inventionexpressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodimentsillustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that mayexist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of theinvention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2 concurrently, a hanging apparatus 100is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The hanging apparatus 100 generally comprises a frameapparatus 200, one or more brackets 300, and one or more over-the-doorhanging members 400. In the exemplified embodiment, there are twobrackets 300 and two over-the-door hanging members 400, but there may beone, three, four or the like of each of those components in otherembodiments. As will be appreciated from the description below, thebrackets 300 are coupled to the frame apparatus 200 and used to hang theframe apparatus 200 from a vertical surface such as a door or a wall.Specifically, each of the over-the-door hanging members 400 may bedetachably coupled to one of the brackets 300 for hanging the frameapparatus 200 from a door. In some embodiments the elongate members 300may be omitted and the brackets 300 may be hung from a piece ofhardware, such as a screw, an anchor, a nail, or the like, that isprotruding from the vertical surface on which the hanging apparatus 100is intended to be hung. Of course, the frame apparatus 200 may be hungfrom surfaces that are not completely vertical in some embodiments.

In the exemplified embodiment, the frame apparatus 200 may be configuredto retain or otherwise support a display item 210 that is desired to bedisplayed, for example, in a home or office environment. For example,the frame apparatus 200 may support artwork, a poster, photographs, amirror, a cork board, a dry erase board, canvas, or the like. Thus, anytype of article or media that is desired to be hung within a home oroffice may be supported by the frame apparatus 200. The invention is notto be particularly limited by the type of display item 210 that isretained by the frame apparatus 200 in all embodiments. As will bediscussed in greater detail below, in the exemplified embodiment theframe apparatus 200 comprises a frame 209, a backer panel 211, and aglazing 212. The frame 209 of the frame apparatus 200 may be a standardframe having a rabbet within which the display item 210, the backerpanel 211 and the glazing 212 are positioned. However, in otherembodiments the frame apparatus 200 may include a frame and the displayitem may be a canvas that is coupled to the frame in a conventionalmanner. In such an embodiment the frame of the frame apparatus 200 maynot have a rabbet. The structural details of the frame apparatus 200will dictate the manner in which the bracket 300 may be coupled to theframe apparatus 200.

In the exemplified embodiment, the frame apparatus 200 comprises a frame209, a backer panel 211, and a glazing 212. The backer panel 211 and theglazing 212 may be referred to herein collectively as a stack. Whenfully assembled, the display item 210 is sandwiched between the backerpanel 211 and the glazing 212 within a rabbet of the frame 209, asdiscussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. Insuch embodiments, the brackets 300 may be coupled to the frame 209 bybeing mounted to the frame within the rabbet. Of course, in otherembodiments, for example where the display item 210 is canvas, the frameapparatus 200 may include the frame 209 but may omit the backer panel211 and the glazing 212 because they are not needed in such embodiments.In such embodiments, the canvas may be coupled directly to the frameusing staples or the like. Furthermore, in such embodiments the brackets300 may be coupled to the frame 209 via hardware that couples thebrackets 300 to the exterior of the frame 209. For example, the brackets300 may be nailed or screwed onto the frame 209 in such a manner thatthey are securely coupled to the frame 209 and available to facilitatehanging of the frame 209 as discussed herein. Thus, the particularconfiguration of the frame apparatus 200 may dictate the manner in whichthe bracket 300 is coupled to the frame apparatus 200.

In the exemplified embodiment, the frame apparatus 200 (and the displayitem 210 supported thereby) is rectangular in shape. However, theinvention is in no way limited to the shape of the frame apparatus 200or the article retained by the frame apparatus 200 and the frameapparatus 200 may take on any polygonal shape (triangular, square,rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, etc.) or the frame apparatus 200 (andthe article(s) retained thereby) may be circular in shape. The frame 209of the frame apparatus 200 has a front surface 201, a rear surface 202,and an inner surface 203 that defines a display opening 204 throughwhich the article can be viewed. Thus, the display item 210 is at leastpartially visible through the display opening 204 of the frame 209.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective exploded view of the hangingapparatus 100. Specifically, in FIG. 2 the brackets 300, theover-the-door hanging members 400, the backer panel 211, the displayitem 210, and the glazing 212 are exploded away from the frame 209 andfrom each other. A detailed description of the brackets 300, theover-the-door hanging members 400, and the frame 209 will be providedbelow.

The glazing 212 can be any type of glazing that is used for framing. Incertain embodiments, the glazing 212 may be a panel of glass, acrylic,plexiglass, polystyrene or other material that allows the viewing of thedisplay item 210 therethrough. Of course other materials can be used inother embodiments of the invention for the glazing 212. In certainembodiments, the glazing 212 is formed of a substantially transparentmaterial so that the display item(s) 210 being framed therein arevisible through the glazing 212. As used herein, the term “transparent”includes the presence of colored tint. In other embodiments, the glazing212 may be at least partially translucent. In still other embodiments ofthe invention, the glazing 212 may be omitted from the frame apparatus200.

The backer panel 211 can be formed of a hard or soft plastic material,such as a thermoplastic material or the like. Alternatively, the backerpanel 211 can be formed of a cardboard, wood, metal or other material asdesired. In certain embodiments, the backer panel 211 may be a ring-likestructure rather than a sheet-like structure. In other embodiments, theframe apparatus 200 may also include a filler panel between the backerpanel 211 and the display item 210. The filler panel takes up space andreduces potential damage by adding a layer of protection for the displayitem 210. The filler panel can also be used to provide the necessarythickness to the stack to ensure adequate compression to hold the stackin the frame 209. In embodiments that include it, the filler panel maybe a sheet of corrugated material or other medium, such as a corrugatedmetal, corrugated cardboard, plastic, fiberboard or the like. The fillersheet can be included as a part of the frame apparatus 200 or omitted asdesired.

To assemble the hanging apparatus 100, first the glazing 212, thedisplay item 210 and the backer panel 211 are inserted into the rabbetof the frame 209 in that order. Next, the brackets 300 are coupled to orsecured to the frame apparatus 200. In the exemplified embodiment, thisis achieved by inserting a portion of the brackets 300 into the rabbetof the frame 209, although the brackets 300 may be coupled directly tothe rear surface 202 of the frame 209 in other embodiments (discussedbelow with reference to FIGS. 13-16C). Furthermore, as will be discussedfurther below, in some embodiments the brackets 300 may be coupled tothe backer panel 211 and then the backer panel 211 placed within therabbet of the frame 209 in the normal manner to achieve coupling of thebrackets 300 to the frame apparatus 200. Next, the over-the-door hangingmembers 400 may be mounted onto the brackets 300. The over-the-doorhanging members 400 can then be hung from a top edge of a door as bestshown in FIG. 17. Of course, as noted herein the over the over-the-doorhanging members 400 may be omitted and the brackets 300 may be mountedto a nail, screw, or other hardware as best shown in FIG. 18.

In the exemplified embodiment, the brackets 300 may be repetitivelycoupled to the frame apparatus 200 and may be repositioned along theframe apparatus 200 as desired. For example, if it is desired to hangthe frame apparatus 200 in a portrait orientation, the brackets 300 willbe coupled to the frame 209 or to the frame apparatus 210 near a top ofthe frame 209 when the frame 209 is in the portrait orientation.Similarly, if it is desired to hang the frame 209 in a landscapeorientation, the brackets 300 will be coupled to the frame 209 or to theframe apparatus 210 near a top of the frame 209 when the frame 209 is inthe landscape orientation. Thus, the brackets 300 may be positioned atdifferent locations along the frame 209 to facilitate a desired hangingorientation of the frame apparatus 200.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the over-the-door hanging members 400 willbe described. The over-the-door hanging members 400 are identical instructure in the exemplified embodiment and thus although two areincluded in the hanging apparatus 100, only one will be described indetail. The over-the-door hanging member 400 comprises an elongated body451 extending from a first end 452 to a second end 453 and a U-shapedmember 458 located at the second end 453 of the elongated body 451. Theelongated body 451 comprises a front surface 493 and an opposite rearsurface 494. In the exemplified embodiment, the over-the-door hangingmember 400 is an integrally formed structure formed by appropriatelybending a flat strip of flexible metal, such as a sheet metal. Ofcourse, other materials and formation techniques can be used, includingthe molding, milling and/or lathing of plastics, matrix materials, orany other material capable of withstanding the required load-bearingrequirements. Moreover, while the over-the-door hanging member 400 ispreferably flexible in nature, it may be constructed to be substantiallyrigid if desired.

The generally U-shaped member 458 is provided at the second end 453 ofthe over-the-door hanging member 400 and extends from the rear surface494 of the elongated body 451. The U-shaped member 458 is sized andshaped for sliding over and engaging a top edge of a door. The U-shapedmember 458 comprises a front portion 454 (which is formed by theelongated body 451), a top portion 455, and a back portion 456 thatterminates with an angled flange 457. The front portion 454 correspondsto a top portion of the elongated body 451 and it encompasses the secondend 453 of the elongated body 451. The top portion 455 extends outwardfrom the rear surface 494 of the elongated body 451 at the second end453 so as to form an approximately 90 degree angle with the frontportion 454 of the U-shaped member 458. Although the top portion 455 isdescribed as extending at an approximately 90 degree angle from thefront portion 454 of the U-shaped member 458, it may extend at otherangles if desired. The back portion 456 of the U-shaped member 458extends downwardly from the top portion 455 at an approximately 90degree angle, thereby forming the U-shaped member 458 of theover-the-door hanging member 400. The angled flange 457 divergesslightly outward from the back portion 456 at an obtuse angle in orderto facilitate placement of the U-shaped member 458 over a top edge of adoor as will be described below with reference to FIG. 17.

The U-shaped member 458 is preferably made of a flexible material sothat it can bend and more easily fit over doors with varying widths. Inother words, it is preferable that a user can extend the distancebetween the back portion 456 and the front portion 454 of the U-shapedmember 458 by applying an outward force on the flange 457. The topportion 455 of the U-shaped member 458 is made wide enough toaccommodate a conventional door width. The thickness of the material,and hence its flexibility, may be chosen so that the U-shaped member 458is sufficiently rigid to avoid deformation under the load of the frameapparatus 200 and display item 210 retained thereby and yet is thinenough to fit over the top of the door without creating clearanceproblems with respect to the cap of the door frame. In use, a user maygrip and pull on the flange portion 457 of the U-shaped member 458 toassist with the attachment of the over-the-door hanging member 400 tothe top edge of a door as illustrated in FIG. 17.

The over-the-door hanging member 400 further comprises first, second,and third hooks 461, 462, 463. Each of the hooks 461-463 extends fromthe front surface 493 of the elongated body 451 of the over-the-doorhanging ember 400. Although three hooks 461-463 are illustrated in theexemplified embodiment, a single hook, two hooks, or more than threehooks may be used in alternative embodiments. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the hooks 461-463 are integrally formed with theover-the-door hanging member 400. More specifically, the hooks 461-463may be formed by punching an appropriate pattern in the elongated body451 of the over-the-door hanging member 400 and subsequently bending thein-plane tab out of plane and into the desired shape. As a result,apertures 464-466 (i.e. holes) are formed in the over-the-door hangingmember 400 behind the hooks 461-463. The apertures 464-466 enable theover-the-door hanging member 400 to be manufactured with less materialand prevent the over-the-door hanging member 400 from prematurelydeteriorating due to the friction of the brackets 300 against the hooks461-463. Of course, the apertures 464-466 need not be included as a partof the over-the-door hanging member 400 and the hooks 461-463 can beseparate structures that are subsequently welded, fastened, clamped orotherwise connected to the over-the-door hanging member 400.

The hooks 461-463 each extend outwardly from the front surface 493 ofthe over-the-door hanging member 400 and upwardly toward the second end453. Each of the hooks 461-463 extends from a base at which it connectsto the over-the-door hanging member 400 to a distal end at which itterminates. Except at the base, each of the hooks 461-463 is spacedapart from the front surface 493 of the elongated body 451 so that aslot is formed between the hooks 461-463 and the elongated body 451. Theover-the-door hanging member 400 is coupled or mounted to the brackets300 by inserting a portion of the bracket 300 into the slot so that thebracket 300 becomes sandwiched between the hooks 461-463 and the frontsurface 493 of the elongated body 451. The hooks 461-463 are preferablyin a linear vertical alignment with one another on the front surface 493of the over-the-door hanging member 400. The hooks 461-463 each have alength which is equal to the distance from the bases to the distal endsof the hooks 461-463, respectively.

In the exemplified embodiment, the hooks 461, 462, 463 are S-shapedtabs. The S-shape of the hooks 461-463 may be preferred to accomplish anefficient attachment between the over-the-door hanging members 400 andthe brackets 300 as will be described below. The invention, of course,is not limited by the shape of the hooks and other shapes may be used aswould be known to persons skilled in the art. For example, the hooks461-463 could simply be straight tabs extending outwardly in an angledfashion from the over-the-door hanging member 400 for slidable matingwith the edges of the brackets 300 as described below. Furthermore, itshould be understood that the term hooks is intended to include anytab-type structure that may extend outwardly from the over-the-doorhanging member 400 in a manner that facilitates slidable mating with theedges of the brackets 300 and is not intended to be in any other waylimiting of the present invention.

As mentioned above, the hooks 461, 462, 463 extend outwardly andupwardly from the front surface 493 of the over-the-door hanging member400 in a spaced part manner so that slots 467, 468, 469 are formedbetween the hooks 461, 462, 463 and the front surface 493 of theover-the-door hanging member 400. The slots 467, 468, 469 have an opentop end that provides access into the slots 467, 468, 469 so that theedges of the brackets 300 can be lowered into the slots 467, 468, 469during mounting of the brackets 300 (which may be coupled to the frameapparatus 200 as described herein) to the over-the-door hanging members400.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-4D, one embodiment of the brackets 300 will bedescribed. The brackets 300 may be formed from any desired material,including metals, plastics, or the like, that permits attachment of thebrackets 300 to the frame apparatus 200, and permits mounting of theover-the-door hanging members 400 to the brackets 300 (or mounting ofthe brackets 300 to hardware preinstalled on a wall, door, or othersupport surface). The brackets 300 have a body portion 340 and amounting portion 345 extending from the body portion 340 for mountingthe bracket 300 to the frame apparatus 200. The body portion 340 of thebrackets 300 comprise a first surface 301, a second surface 302, and aperipheral edge 303 extending between the first and second surfaces 301,302.

The peripheral edge 303 of the body portion 340 comprises a first edgeportion 330, a second edge portion 331, and a third edge portion 332. Inthe exemplified embodiment, the bracket 300 has the shape of a truncatedor clipped triangle such that two of the three corners of the trianglehave been clipped or cut off. As a result, the third edge portion 332 isnot a continuous linear edge like the first and second edge portions330, 331, but rather has three linear sections. Specifically, the thirdedge portion 332 has a first linear section 333, a second linear section334, and a third linear section 335. The first linear section 333extends orthogonally from the first edge portion 330 to the third linearsection 335, the second linear section 334 extends orthogonally from thesecond edge portion 331 to the third linear section 335, and the thirdlinear section 335 extends between the first and second linear sections333, 334. The third linear section 335 is oriented at an obtuse anglerelative to each the first and second linear sections 333, 334, and thefirst and second linear sections 333, 334 extend along axes that areperpendicular to one another. In the exemplified embodiment, the firstlinear section 333 extends parallel to the second edge portion 331 andthe second linear section 334 extends parallel to the first edge portion330.

Of course, in other embodiments the bracket 300 may take on other shapessuch as triangular (non-truncated), square, rectangular, or the like. Inany case, two of the edges of the bracket 300 are coupled to the frameapparatus 200 and not exposed when viewing the hanging apparatus 100from the rear surface 202 of the frame 209. In the exemplifiedembodiment where the bracket 300 has a triangular shape, a single edge(i.e., the third edge portion 332) is exposed at the rear surface 202 ofthe frame 209 (see FIG. 1B). If the bracket 300 were square orrectangular, two of the four edge portions would be exposed at the rearsurface 202 of the frame 209. However, for purposes of the inventiondescribed herein, the two exposed edge portions of the bracket would beconsidered the third edge portion. Stated another way, the third edgeportion comprises any portion of the peripheral edge 303 of the bracket300, regardless of the shape of the bracket 300, that is exposed ornon-adjacent to the inner surface 203 of the frame 209 when viewing thehanging apparatus 100 from the rear surface 202 of the frame 209.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first edge portion 330 extends alonga first edge axis Z-Z, the second edge portion 331 extends along asecond edge axis Y-Y, and the third linear section 335 of the third edgeportion 332 extends along a third edge axis X-X. The first and secondedge axes Z-Z, Y-Y are perpendicular to one another. Furthermore, thethird edge axis X-X forms an acute angle with each of the first andsecond edge axes Z-Z, Y-Y.

The bracket 300 includes features that permit coupling of theover-the-door hanging members 400 to the bracket 300 and features thatpermit mounting the bracket 300 to a screw, anchor, or other hardwareattached to a wall or other vertical surface. In that regard, in theexemplified embodiment the bracket 300 comprises first and second slots310, 311 that extend from the third linear section 335 of the third edgeportion 332 inwardly into the bracket 300. In the exemplifiedembodiment, each of the first and second slots 310, 311 extend throughthe entire thickness of the body portion 340 of the bracket 300 to formopenings through the body portion 340 of the bracket 300. Of course, theslots 310, 311 may not extend through the entire thickness of the bodyportion 340 in other embodiments while still achieving their function ofpermitting the over-the-door hanging members 400 (or other hardware) tocouple to the brackets 300 at the location of the slots 310, 311.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first slot 310 extends from the thirdedge portion 332 towards the second edge portion 331 and the second slot311 extends from the third edge portion 332 towards the first edgeportion 330. Each of the first and second slots 310, 311 is open at thethird edge portion 332 of the peripheral edge 303 of the body portion340 of the bracket 300. The first and second slots 310 are spaced apartalong the third linear section 335 of the third edge portion 332, suchthat the first slot 310 is positioned adjacent to the first linearsection 333 of the third edge portion 332 and the second slot 311 ispositioned adjacent to the second linear section 334 of the third edgeportion 332.

The first slot 310 is elongated in a direction that is parallel to thefirst edge portion 330 of the peripheral edge 303. The first slot 310extends from an opening 360 in the third edge portion 332 to a terminalend 361. The first slot 310 is elongated along a first axis A-A that isparallel to the first edge portion 330 of the peripheral edge 303. Thesecond slot 311 is elongated in a direction that is parallel to thesecond edge portion 331 of the peripheral edge 303. The second slot 311extends from an opening 362 in the third edge portion 332 to a terminalend 363. The second slot 311 is elongated along a second axis B-B thatis parallel to the second edge portion 331 of the peripheral edge 303.Furthermore, the third edge portion 332 of the peripheral edge 303intersects the first and second axes A-A, B-B at an acute angle.

The bracket 300 also includes an aperture 313 that is spaced from eachof the first and second slots 310, 311. The aperture 313 extends throughthe body portion 340 from the first surface 301 to the second surface302. The aperture 313 comprises an entry section 314 and first andsecond nesting sections 315, 316 extending from the entry section 314.In the exemplified embodiment, the entry section 314 of the aperture 313has a circular shape and each of the first and second nesting section315, 316 of the aperture 313 are linear and elongated as they extendfrom the entry section 314. Furthermore, the first and second nestingsections 315, 316 are spaced apart by approximately 90° along thecircumference of the entry section 314. Specifically, the first nestingsection 315 extends from the entry section 314 towards the second edgeportion 331 of the peripheral edge 303 and the second nesting section316 extends from the entry section 314 towards the first edge portion330 of the peripheral edge 303.

The first nesting section 315 of the aperture 313 is aligned with thefirst slot 310 such that the first slot 310 and the first nestingsection 315 are aligned along the first axis A-A that is parallel to thefirst edge portion 330 of the peripheral edge 303. Furthermore, in theexemplified embodiment the first nesting section 315 of the aperture 313is elongated along the first axis A-A. Similarly, the second nestingsection 316 of the aperture 313 is aligned with the second slot 311 suchthat the second slot 311 and the second nesting section 316 are alignedalong the second axis B-B that is parallel to the second edge portion331 of the peripheral edge 303. Furthermore, in the exemplifiedembodiment the second nesting section 316 of the aperture 313 iselongated along the second axis B-B. The first axis A-A in theexemplified embodiment is parallel with the first edge portion 330 ofthe peripheral edge 303 and the second axis B-B in the exemplifiedembodiment is parallel with the second edge portion 331 of theperipheral edge 303. Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment thefirst and second axes A-A, B-B are perpendicular to one another.

The spacing of the first and second slots 310, 311 from each other andfrom the first and second edge portions 330, 331 of the peripheral edge303 is consistent. As a result, as seen in FIG. 4B, in the exemplifiedembodiment the bracket 300 is symmetric about a reference plane D-D thatintersects the location at which the first and second edge portions 330,331 of the peripheral edge 303 connect and intersects the third edgeportion 332 at its center-point (i.e., at a location that is equidistantfrom the first and second slots 310, 311). Furthermore, the referenceplane D-D intersects both of the first and second axes A-A, B-B at anapproximately 45° angle.

Due to the alignment of the first nesting section 315 of the aperture313 with the first slot 310, one of the over-the-door hanging members400 may be mounted to the bracket 300 by inserting two adjacent ones ofthe hooks 461-463 of the over-the-door hanging member 400 into the firstslot 310 and the first nesting section 315 of the aperture 313,respectively (one hook in each). Alternatively, and depending on theorientation of the bracket 300, one of the over-the-door hanging members400 may be mounted to the bracket 300 by inserting two adjacent ones ofthe hooks 461-463 of the over-the-door hanging member 400 into thesecond slot 311 and the second nesting section 316 of the aperture 313,respectively (one hook in each). Typically either the first slot 310 andthe first nesting section 315 or the second slot 311 and the secondnesting section 316 is used for mounting the over-the-door hangingmember 400 to any one of the bracket 300 at a given time, but not both.

As noted above, the brackets 300 also include the mounting portion 345extending from the body portion 340. The mounting portion 345 of thebrackets 300 is configured to couple the brackets 300 to the frameapparatus 200. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 345 isconfigured for mounting the brackets 300 directly to the frame 209. Morespecifically, the mounting portion 345 is configured for interactingwith a groove in the inner surface 203 of the frame 209 to mount thebracket 300 directly to the frame 300. Alternatively, the mountingportion 345 could be configured for being mounted directly to the rearsurface 202 of the frame 209 using hardware such as screws and/or nails.In the exemplified embodiment, the mounting portion 345 comprises avertical wall 346 extending downwardly from each of the first and secondedge portions 330, 331 of the peripheral edge 303 of the body portion340 in a direction away from the rear surface 302 of the body portion340 and a horizontal wall 347 extending from the vertical wall 346 to aterminal edge 348. The horizontal wall 347 extends from the verticalwall 346 in a direction away from the first and second edge portions330, 331. Thus, the mounting portion 345 has a generally L-shapedstructure formed by the vertical wall 346 and the horizontal wall 347.The horizontal wall 347 is recessed relative to the first surface 301 ofthe body portion 340 of the bracket 300.

The horizontal wall 347 comprises a front surface 349 and an oppositerear surface 359. Furthermore, a plurality of ribs 306 protrude from thefirst surface 349 of the horizontal wall 347 of the mounting portion 345of the bracket 300. The exact structure and configuration of the ribs306 is not to be limited to the embodiment shown, but rather theembodiment illustrated is exemplary in nature. Specifically, in theexemplified embodiment each of the ribs 306 is oriented at an obliqueangle relative to the first and second edge portions 330, 331, but theribs 306 may be otherwise positioned or configured in other embodiments.The ribs 306 assist in securely coupling the brackets 300 to the frameapparatus 200 as will be described in more detail below with referenceto FIG. 5B. Although a plurality of discrete and spaced apart ribs 306are illustrated in the exemplified embodiment, a single rib may be usedin other embodiments. Furthermore, in certain embodiments the ribs 306may be optional and thus the bracket 300 may omit the ribs 306 in someembodiments.

In the exemplified embodiment, two identical brackets 300 are used tocouple the over-the-door hanging members 400 to the frame apparatus 200.Specifically, referring to FIG. 1B, two of the brackets 300 areillustrated coupled to the frame apparatus 200. These brackets 300 areidentical, except the bracket 300 on the right is rotated 90° in aclockwise direction relative to the bracket 300 on the left. Due to thelocations of the slots 310, 311 and the nesting sections 315, 316 of theaperture 313, it is possible to couple the over-the-door hanging members400 to the brackets 300 in these different rotational positions. Thebrackets 300 could also be coupled to the frame apparatus 200 on thelower two corners, the two corners on the left, or the two corners onthe right (the “left” and “right” being based on the view shown in FIG.1B) while still enabling the over-the-door hanging members 400 to becoupled to the brackets 300 as described herein.

Although the invention has been described briefly above with regard tomounting the over-the-door hanging members 400 to the brackets 300, theinvention is not to be so limited in all embodiments. In otherembodiments, the apertures 313 and/or the slots 310, 311 may be used tomount the bracket 300 to a screw, anchor, or other hardware that isalready secured to a wall or other surface. In that regard, the entrysection 314 of the aperture 313 is preferably sufficiently large indiameter to permit the head of a screw to fit therethrough. The bracket313 can then be slid onto the screw with the body of the screw fittingwithin one of the nesting sections 315, 316 of the aperture 313depending on the orientation of the bracket 300. This technique forhanging articles from a wall using a screw is well known. Thus, theaperture 313 and the slots 310, 311 enables the hanging apparatus 100 tobe hung from a wall or other surface using different techniquesincluding screws, anchors, or other wall hardware or using theover-the-door hanging members 400 to secure the hanging apparatus 100 inan over-the-door type fashion.

Referring briefly to FIG. 4E, a slightly alternative embodiment of abracket 300 a is illustrated. Features of the bracket 300 a that areidentical to the bracket 300 will be described herein with the suffix“a” following the reference number. Thus, it should be appreciated thatfor features of the bracket 300 a that are numbered but not described orthat are not numbered or described, the description of the similarfeature on the bracket 300 is applicable.

In this embodiment, the bracket 300 a is identical to the bracket 300except that a section of the third edge portion 332 a (and morespecifically the third linear section 335 a of the third edge portion332 a) comprises a sawtooth configuration. More specifically, in thisembodiment a section of the third linear section 335 a of the third edgeportion 332 a that extends between the first and second slots 310 a, 311a comprises the sawtooth configuration. The sawtooth configuration isformed by a jagged region of the third linear section 335 a. Theinclusion of the sawtooth portion permits the bracket 300 a to bemounted to a screw or other hardware that is secured on a wall or othersurface. Specifically, rather than using the over-the-door hangingmembers 400 and rather than using the slots 310 a, 311 a and theaperture 313 a for hanging the frame apparatus 200 from a supportsurface, it can be achieved via interaction between an article ofhardware and the sawtooth section of the bracket 300 a. The use ofsawtooth hangers is known in the industry, and thus a more detaileddescription of the use of the sawtooth configuration on the third linearsection 335 a of the bracket 300 a will not be provided herein. Any ofthe brackets described herein may include or not include the sawtoothconfiguration illustrated and described herein with reference to FIG.4E.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the hanging apparatus 100 will be furtherdescribed with reference to an exploded cross-sectional view. As notedabove, the frame 209 of the frame apparatus 200 has a front surface 201,a rear surface 202, and an inner surface 203 that defines the displayopening 204. Furthermore, the frame 209 has a rabbet 205 within whichthe display item 210, the backer panel 211, and the glazing 212 ispositioned in the fully assembled frame apparatus 200. The rabbet 205 isdefined by a horizontal surface 206 and a vertical surface 207 of theinner surface 203 of the frame 209. The horizontal surface 206 forms afloor of the rabbet 205 upon which the glazing 212 rests when the frameapparatus 200 is assembled as described herein.

As noted above, the display item 210 may be a mirror, and in suchembodiments there may be the mirror and the backer panel 211 insertedinto the rabbet 205 without also including the glazing 212. In otherembodiments the display item 210 may be artwork, and the glazing 212 andthe backer panel 211 may be positioned within the rabbet 205 on oppositesides of the artwork. In the exemplified embodiment, the display item210, the backer panel 211, and the glazing 212 are illustrated, but moreor less components may be included (including a filler panel or thelike) depending on the type of display item 210 that is secured withinthe frame 209.

The frame 209 also includes a channel or groove 220 formed into theinner surface 203 at a position that is between where the backer panel211 lies when the frame apparatus 200 is assembled and the rear surface202 of the frame 209. In the exemplified embodiment the channel 220 isan annular channel that extends along the entirety of the inner surface203 of the frame 209. However, the invention is not to be so limited inall embodiments and the channel 220 could be a discontinuous channelextending along portions of the inner surface 203 of the frame 209 wherethere the brackets 300 are more likely to be coupled to the frame 209.For example, the channel 220 may extend only along the corners of theframe 209 where the brackets 300 are coupled to the frame 209 in FIG.1B.

The rabbet 205 is intended to provide a location for the display item210, the backer panel 211, and the glazing 212 to nest in the assembledframe apparatus 200. Similarly, the channel 220 provides a location atwhich the bracket 300 may be coupled to the frame apparatus 200.Specifically, referring concurrently to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B (whichillustrates the same cross-sectional view but with the hanging apparatus100 fully assembled), to assemble the hanging apparatus 100 first theglazing 212, the display item 210, and the backer panel 211 are insertedinto the rabbet 205 of the frame 209 in that order to form the frameapparatus 200. Next, the bracket 300 is coupled to the frame apparatus200 by inserting the horizontal wall 347 of the mounting portion 345 ofthe bracket 300 into the channel 220. The horizontal wall 347 of themounting portion 345 of the bracket 300 may be press fit or wedged intothe channel 220 of the frame 209 to couple the bracket 300 to the frameapparatus 200. The ribs 306 on the horizontal wall 347 of the mountingportion 345 of the bracket 300 assist in ensuring that the bracket 300is securely coupled to the frame apparatus 200 within the channel 200 ofthe frame 209. Specifically, the ribs 306 prevent the bracket 300 frombecoming readily dislodged from the channel 220 by ensuring a secure,tight fit between the mounting portion 345 of the bracket 300 and thechannel 220 of the frame 209.

Finally, a determination is made regarding the manner in which the frameapparatus 200 is going to be hung. In the exemplified embodiment, theover-the-door hanging members 400 are used. Thus, in the exemplifiedembodiment the next step is to insert the first hook 461 of theover-the-door hanging member 400 into the aperture 313 of the bracket300 while simultaneously inserting the second hook 462 of theover-the-door hanging member 400 into the second slot 311 of the bracket300. Rather than the first and second hooks 461, 462, in otherembodiments the second and third hooks 462, 463 may be used.Furthermore, depending on the orientation of the bracket 300 and theframe apparatus 200, the one of the hooks may be inserted into the firstslot 310 rather than the second slot 311. Regardless, this actionsecures the over-the-door hanging members 400 to the bracket 300. Theover-the-door hanging members 400 may then be hung from over the top ofa door as illustrated in FIG. 17.

Alternatively, the over-the-door hanging members 400 may not be used inother embodiments. Rather, in another embodiment a screw, anchor, orother wall hardware may be used and may be secured to the bracket 300 byinserting it into the aperture 313 in a traditional manner, or bysecuring such a screw to a sawtooth edge of the bracket 300 as describedabove. Thus, the brackets 300 are designed to permit the utilization ofseveral different mounting techniques for mounting the frame apparatus200, or the hanging apparatus 100, to a wall, door, other verticalsurface, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 6, another alternative embodiment of a bracket 300 bis illustrated. The bracket 300 b is identical to the bracket 300described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D except for the differencesdescribed herein below. Thus, the bracket 300 b will be similarlynumbered to the bracket 300 except that the suffix “b” will be used. Forfeatures of the bracket 300 b that are not described in detail herein,it should be appreciated that the description of the bracket 300 aboveapplies. Furthermore, for features of the bracket 300 b that arenumbered but not described, it should be appreciated that thedescription of the similarly numbered feature of the bracket 300 isapplicable.

The bracket 300 b is identical to the bracket 300 with regard to thestructure of the slots 310 b, 311 b and the aperture 313 b. However, thebracket 300 b does not include the vertical and horizontal walls 346,347 of the mounting section 345 as described above. Specifically, inthis embodiment the mounting section 345 is omitted and instead thebracket 300 b includes projections or barbs 350 b protruding from theperipheral edge 303 b of the body portion 340 b of the bracket 300 b.Specifically, in the exemplified embodiment there are two projections350 b protruding from the first edge portion 330 b of the peripheraledge 303 b and two projections 350 b protruding from the second edgeportion 331 b of the peripheral edge 303 b. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the projections 350 protrude from the peripheral edge 303 bin a direction that is substantially parallel to a plane on which thefront and rear surfaces 301 b, 302 b of the bracket 300 b lie. Theprojections 350 b may be barbs or other sharp projections capable ofpiercing the inner surface 203 of the frame 209 to secure the bracket300 b to the frame 209.

Referring to FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of an alternative assembledhanging apparatus 100 a is illustrated when using the bracket 300 brather than the bracket 300. In this embodiment, the frame 209 bincludes the rabbet 205 b, but does not include a channel. This isbecause the projections 350 are configured to pierce or penetrate theinner surface 203 a of the frame 209 a. In that regard, the bracket 300b may be coupled to the frame apparatus 200 a using techniques similarto how the industry currently couples flex tabs to frames. The bracket300 b may then be coupled to the over-the-door hanging members 400 or toa screw or other hardware as described herein above with regard to thebracket 300 to hang the hanging apparatus 100 a from a support surface.

Referring to FIGS. 8-12, a hanging apparatus 100 b will be described inaccordance with still another embodiment. In this embodiment, thehanging apparatus 100 b includes the frame apparatus 200 (alreadydescribed above), the over-the-door hanging members 400 (alreadydescribed above), and brackets 300 c. The frame apparatus 200 is thesame frame apparatus 200 as has been described above and thus the samenumerals are used for the features of the frame apparatus 200.Similarly, the over-the-door hanging members 400 are the sameover-the-door hanging members 400 as have been described above, and thusthe same numerals are used for the features of this component. Thedetails of the frame apparatus 200 and the over-the-door hanging members400 will not be provided again in the interest of brevity. The brackets300 c are different in structure/shape than the previously describedbrackets 300, 300 a, 300 b. Thus, the brackets 300 c are describedherein using the suffix “c,” although it should be appreciated thatsimilarly numbered features have a similar structure and/or function tothat described above and thus the description of the brackets 300, 300a, 300 b may be applicable to the brackets 300 c. The focus of thedescription of FIGS. 8-11 will be on the brackets 300 c, it beingunderstood that the description above is applicable for the othercomponents.

The frame apparatus 200 includes the frame 209, the backer panel 211,and the glazing 212 as previously described. The backer panel 211 andthe glazing 212 (and the display item 210) are disposed within therabbet of the frame 209 to form the frame apparatus 200 and then thebrackets 300 c are coupled to the frame apparatus 200. The over-the-doorhanging members 400 can then be mounted to the brackets 300 c as will bedescribed more thoroughly below. The mounting of the over-the-doorhanging members 400 to the brackets 300 c is similar to the mounting ofthe over-the-door hanging members 400 to the brackets 300, 300 a, 300 b.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the bracket 300 c comprises a body portion340 c and a mounting portion 345 c extending from the body portion 340c. The body portion 340 c comprises a first surface 301 c, a secondsurface 302 c, and a peripheral edge 303 c extending between the firstand second surfaces 301 c, 302 c. In this embodiment, the bracket 300 cis rectangular or square shaped rather than being triangular shaped.Thus, in this embodiment the peripheral edge 303 c of the body portion340 c of the bracket 300 c comprises a top edge 316 c, a bottom edge 317c, and first and second side edges 318 c, 319 c. The body portion 340 cof the bracket 300 c comprises a slot 310 c extending from the bottomedge 317 c towards the top edge 316 c and an aperture 313 c extendingthrough the bracket 300 c from the first surface 301 c to the secondsurface 302 c. The aperture 313 c comprises an entry section 314 c and anesting section 315 c extending from the entry section 314 c. The slot310 c and the nesting section 315 c are aligned along an axis C-C, whichis parallel to each of the first and second side edges 318 c, 319 c.More specifically, in the exemplified embodiment the slot 310 c and thenesting section 315 c of the aperture 313 c are elongated along the axisC-C. Thus, the elongate elements 400 can be coupled to the bracket 300by inserting one of the hooks 461-463 into the slot 310 c and anotherone of the hooks 461-463 into the nesting section 315 c of the aperture313 c in a similar manner to the coupling of the over-the-door hangingmembers 400 to the bracket 300 as described above. Alternatively, theaperture 313 c (and/or the slot 310 c) may be used to couple or mountthe bracket 300 onto a screw or other hardware that is pre-secured ontoa wall or other surface. The bottom edge 317 c may also include asawtooth configuration to provide an additional location on the bracket300 c that may be mounted onto hardware protruding from a supportsurface such as a wall or a door.

The mounting section 345 c of the bracket 300 c includes a vertical wall346 c extending from the top edge 316 c of the body portion 340 c of thebracket 300 c and a horizontal wall 347 c extending from the verticalwall 346 c in a direction away from the top edge 316 c. The horizontalwall 347 c may include ribs 306 c protruding therefrom to facilitatesecurely mounting the bracket 300 c to the frame 209 as has beendescribed above with regard to the bracket 300.

Referring to FIG. 12, a cross-sectional assembled view of the hangingapparatus 100 b is illustrated. The mounting section 345 c of thebracket 300 c is inserted into the channel 220 of the frame apparatus200 to couple the bracket 300 c to the frame apparatus 200, and morespecifically to the frame 209 of the frame apparatus 200. This can beaccomplished via press-fitting or otherwise. The over-the-door hangingmember 400 is then mounted to the bracket 300 c in the manner describedabove. When the over-the-door hanging member 400 is mounted to thebracket 300 c, the over-the-door hanging member 400 may then be coupledto a top of a door as illustrated in FIG. 17. Alternatively, theover-the-door hanging member 400 may not be used and the bracket 300 maybe coupled directly to a screw or other hardware as described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 13-16C, a hanging apparatus 100 c will be describedin accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, the hanging apparatus 100 c includes the frameapparatus 200 (already described above), the over-the-door hangingmembers 400 (already described above), and brackets 300 d. The frameapparatus 200 is the same frame apparatus 200 as has been describedabove and thus the same numerals are used for the features of the frameapparatus 200. Similarly, the over-the-door hanging members 400 are thesame over-the-door hanging members 400 as have been described above, andthus the same numerals are used for the features of this component. Thedetails of the frame apparatus 200 and the over-the-door hanging members400 will not be provided again in the interest of brevity. The brackets300 d are similar to the brackets 300, 300 a described above except thatthe structure of the mounting portion 345 d of the bracket 300 d isdifferent than the mounting portion 345 of the brackets 300. Thus, thebrackets 300 d are described herein using the suffix “d” and it shouldbe appreciated that for features of the brackets 300 d that are numberedbut not described (or not numbered or described), the description of thebrackets 300 above is applicable

The frame apparatus 200 includes the frame 209, the backer panel 211,and the glazing 212 as previously described. The backer panel 211 andthe glazing 212 (and the display item 210) are disposed within therabbet 205 of the frame 209 to form the frame apparatus 200. Asdiscussed in more detail below, in this embodiment the brackets 300 dare coupled to the backer panel 211 before the backer panel 211 isplaced within the rabbet 205 of the frame 209. Specifically, in thisembodiment the mounting portion 345 d of the brackets 300 d areconfigured to wrap around a portion of the backer panel 211 to mount thebrackets 300 d to the backer panel 211 before the backer panel 211 isplaced within the rabbet 205 of the frame 209. The over-the-door hangingmembers 400 can then be mounted to the brackets 300 d. The mounting ofthe over-the-door hanging members 400 to the brackets 300 d is similarto the mounting of the over-the-door hanging members 400 to the brackets300, 300 a, 300 b, 300 c.

As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14A, in this embodiment the frame apparatus 200includes a plurality of flex tabs 399 for retaining the stack (i.e., thebacker panel 211 and the glazing 212) and the display item 210 withinthe rabbet 205 of the frame 209. The flex tabs 399 are coupled to theframe 209 such that a portion of the flex tabs 399 is embedded withinthe inner surface 203 frame 209 while another portion of the flex tabs399 protrude from the inner surface 203 of the frame 209. This techniquefor coupling the flex tabs 399 to the frame apparatus 200 is well knownin the industry. The portion of the flex tabs 399 that protrudes fromthe inner surface 203 of the frame 209 can be pivoted/rotated relativeto the frame 209 to permit insertion of the glazing 212, the displayitem 210, and the backer panel 211 within the rabbet 205 of the frame209 and to then secure the glazing 212, the display item 210, and thebacker panel 211 within the rabbet 205 of the frame 209. When theglazing 212, the display item 210, and the backer panel 211 arepositioned within the rabbet 205 and the flex tabs 399 are made tooverlap/lie across the backer panel 211, the backer panel 211, thedisplay item 210, and the glazing 212 are prevented from being readilyremoved from the rabbet 205. Although the flex tabs 399 are illustratedin the exemplified embodiment, they may be omitted and replaced withturn buttons or other hardware that achieves the same function ofmaintaining the backer panel 211, the display item 210, and the glazing212 within the rabbet 205 of the frame apparatus 200.

FIG. 14B is identical to FIG. 14A except that the brackets 300 d areillustrated coupled to the backer panel 211. As briefly mentioned above,in this embodiment the brackets 300 d are coupled to the backer panel211 before the backer panel 211 is inserted into the rabbet. Thus, FIG.14B illustrates the arrangement of the components just prior toinserting the glazing 212, the display item 210, and the backer panel211 into the rabbet 205 of the frame 209. FIG. 14B will be described ingreater detail below collectively with FIG. 16B once the structuraldetails of the bracket 300 d have been described.

Referring to FIGS. 15A-15D, the brackets 300 d will be described. Thebrackets 300 d are generally similar to the brackets 300 describedabove. In that regard, the brackets 300 d include a body portion 340 dand a mounting portion 345 d extending from the body portion 340 d formounting the brackets 300 d to the frame apparatus 200. The structure ofthe body portion 340 d of the bracket 300 d is identical to the bodyportion 340 of the bracket 300, and thus the details will only bebriefly repeated herein in the interest of brevity.

Specifically, the body portion 340 d comprises a first surface 301 d, anopposite second surface 302 d, and a peripheral edge 303 d extendingbetween the first and second surfaces 301 d, 302 d. The peripheral edge303 d includes a first edge portion 330 d, a second edge portion 331 d,and a third edge portion 332 d. A first slot 310 d extends from thethird edge portion 332 d towards the second edge portion 331 d and asecond slot 311 d extends from the third edge portion 332 d toward thefirst edge portion 330 d. Furthermore, an aperture 313 d is formed intothe body portion 340 d of the bracket 300 d at a location that is spacedapart from the first and second slots 310 d, 311 d. The aperture 313 dcomprises an entry section 314 d, a first nesting section 315 dextending from the entry section 314 d towards the second edge portion331 d, and a second nesting section 316 d extending form the entrysection 314 d towards the first edge portion 330 d.

The first slot 310 d and the first nesting section 315 d of the aperture313 d are aligned on and elongated along a first axis E-E that isparallel to the first edge portion 330 d of the peripheral edge 303 d ofthe body portion 340 d of the bracket 300 d. The second slot 311 d andthe second nesting section 316 d of the aperture 313 d are aligned onand elongated along a second axis F-F that is parallel to the secondedge portion 331 d of the peripheral edge 303 d of the body portion 340d of the bracket 300 d. The first and second axes E-E, F-F areperpendicular to one another. The first and second slots 310 d, 311 dand the aperture 313 d are used for coupling one of the over-the-doorhanging members 400 to the bracket 300 d or for hanging the bracket 300d from some other hardware (screw, nail, etc.), as described above.

The mounting section 345 d of the bracket 300 d is different than in thepreviously described embodiments. In this embodiment, the mountingsection 340 d of the bracket 300 d is configured to wrap around aportion of the backer panel 211 before inserting the backer panel 211into the rabbet 205 of the frame 209. Specifically, as best seen in FIG.14B, each of the brackets 300 d is configured to wrap around one of thecorners of the backer panel 211. The backer panel 211 (along with thedisplay item 210 and the glazing 212) are then inserted into the rabbet205 and coupled to the frame 209 using the flex tabs 399 or the like asdescribed herein above. Because the mounting section 345 d of thebracket 300 d wraps around the backer panel 211, when the backer panel211 is secured to the frame 209, the bracket 300 d is also secured tothe frame apparatus 200 d because a portion of the mounting section 345d of the bracket 300 d is trapped between the backer panel 211 and thedisplay item 210 (see FIG. 16C described in more detail below).

The mounting portion 345 d comprises a first vertical wall 320 dextending downwardly from the first edge portion 330 d of the bracket300 d in a direction away from the second surface 302 d of the bodyportion 340 d of the bracket 300 d, a first horizontal wall 321 dextending from the first vertical wall 320 d in a direction away fromthe first edge portion 330 d of the peripheral edge 303 d of the bracket300 d, a second vertical wall 322 d extending downwardly from the firsthorizontal wall 321 d in the direction away from the second surface 302d of the bracket 300 d, and a second horizontal wall 323 d extendingfrom the second vertical wall 322 d in a direction towards the firstedge portion 330 d of the peripheral edge 303 d of the bracket 300 d.Furthermore, the mounting portion 345 d comprises a first elongatedchannel 324 d that is defined by the first horizontal wall 321 d, thesecond vertical wall 322 d, and the second horizontal wall 323 d. In theexemplified embodiment, the first and second vertical walls 320 d, 322 dare parallel to one another and the first and second horizontal walls321 d, 323 d are parallel to one another.

Similarly, the mounting portion 345 d comprises a third vertical wall370 d extending downwardly from the second edge portion 331 d of theperipheral edge 303 d of the body portion 340 d of the bracket 300 d ina direction away from the second surface 302 d of the body portion 340 dof the bracket 300 d, a third horizontal wall 371 d extending from thethird vertical wall 370 d in a direction away from the second edgeportion 331 d of the peripheral edge 303 d of the bracket 300 d, afourth vertical wall 372 d extending downwardly from the thirdhorizontal wall 37 d, and a fourth horizontal wall 373 d extending fromthe fourth vertical wall 372 d in a direction towards the second edgeportion 331 d of the peripheral edge 303 d of the bracket 300 d.Furthermore, the mounting portion 345 d of the bracket 300 d comprises asecond elongated channel 374 d that is defined by the third horizontalwall 371 d, the fourth vertical wall 372 d, and the fourth horizontalwall 373 d. In the exemplified embodiment, the third and fourth verticalwalls 370 d, 372 d are parallel to one another and the third and fourthhorizontal walls 371 d, 373 d are parallel to one another.

The first elongated channel 324 d extends parallel to the first edgeportion 330 d of the peripheral edge 303 d of the body portion 340 d ofthe bracket 300 d and the second elongated channel 374 d extendsparallel to the second edge portion 331 d of the peripheral edge 303 dof the body portion 340 d of the bracket 300 d. Each of the first andsecond elongated channels 324 d, 374 d is sized and configured toreceive a portion of the backer panel 211 therein such that the bracket300 d can be coupled to a corner of the backer panel 211 by insertingportions of two adjacent edges of the backer panel 211 that are joinedat the corner into the first and second elongated channels 324 d, 374 d.The first and second elongated channels 324 d, 374 d are spaced apartfrom the second surface 302 d of the bracket 300 d by the first andsecond vertical walls 320 d, 370 d, respectively. Thus, when the bracket300 d is coupled to the backer panel 211 as described more fully hereinbelow, the first and third vertical walls 320 d, 370 d maintain a spacebetween the first and second elongated channels 324 d, 374 d of themounting portion 345 d of the bracket 300 d and the backer panel 211.This space provides a location for insertion of the hooks 461-463 of theover-the-door hanging members 400 or some other hardware as describedherein during hanging of the frame apparatus 100 c.

Although not illustrated in the exemplified embodiment, in certainembodiments the third edge portion 332 d of the body portion 340 d ofthe bracket 300 d may comprises a sawtooth configuration similar to thatwhich is illustrated in FIG. 4E and described above.

FIG. 16A schematically illustrates a cross-section of a portion of thehanging apparatus 100 c with the components exploded. Thus, in this viewthe frame 209 is shown with the rabbet 205 empty and ready to receivethe glazing 212, the display item 210, and the backer panel 211.Furthermore, the flex tabs 399 are coupled to the frame 209 as describedabove. The bracket 300 d is positioned above the backer panel 211 inpreparation for coupling the bracket 300 d to the backer panel 211. Theover-the-door hanging member 400 is illustrated having two hooks 461,462, although the over-the-door hanging member 400 may have more thantwo hooks as described above. Furthermore, the over-the-door hangingmember 400 may be omitted in some embodiments as the bracket 300 d maybe hung from a wall via different hardware as described herein.

FIG. 16B illustrates the same thing as FIG. 16A except that the bracket300 d is now coupled to the backer panel 211 as illustrated in FIG. 14B.Specifically, in this embodiment a portion of the backer panel 211 isinserted within the channels 324 d, 374 d formed by the walls of themounting portion 345 d of the bracket 300. As noted above, the walls ofthe mounting portion 345 d are located at two adjacent edges of thebracket 300, and thus portions of two adjacent edges of the backer panel211 will be located within the channel(s) 324 d, 374 d. As seen in FIG.16B, a space 375 d is maintained between the body portion 340 d of thebracket 300 d and the backer panel 211 due to the existence of the firstand third vertical walls 320 d, 370 d. This space 375 d provides alocation for the hooks 461, 462 to be positioned when hanging the frameapparatus 200.

As can be seen in FIG. 16B, the backer panel 211 has a front surface214, an opposite rear surface 215, and a peripheral edge 216 extendingbetween the front and rear surfaces 214, 215. When the bracket 300 iscoupled to the backer panel 211, a portion of the peripheral edge 216 ofthe backer panel 211 is inserted into the channel 374 d of the mountingportion 345 d of the bracket 300 d so that the fourth horizontal wall373 d is adjacent (and possibly in contact with) the front surface 214of the backer panel 211, the third horizontal wall 371 d is adjacent(and possibly in contact with) the rear surface 215 of the backer panel211, and the portion of the peripheral edge 216 of the backer panel 211is adjacent to the fourth vertical wall 373 d. Thus, the portion of theperipheral edge 216 of the backer panel 211 is positioned within thesecond elongated channel 374 d. Although not shown in FIG. 16B,simultaneously an adjacent portion of the peripheral edge 216 of thebacker panel 211 is inserted into the channel 324 d of the mountingportion 345 d of the bracket 300 d so that the second horizontal wall323 d is adjacent (and possibly in contact with) the front surface 214of the backer panel, the first horizontal wall 321 d is adjacent (andpossibly in contact with) the rear surface 215 of the backer panel 211,and the adjacent portion of the peripheral edge 216 of the backer panel211 is adjacent to the second vertical wall 323 d. Thus, the adjacentportion of the peripheral edge 216 of the backer panel 211 is positionedwithin the first elongated channel 324 d. In this manner, the bracket300 is readily and easily coupled to the backer panel 211 by sliding itover one of the corners of the backer panel.

FIG. 16C illustrates a cross-section of a portion of the hangingapparatus 100 c fully assembled. The glazing 212, the display item 210,and the backer panel 211, with the bracket 300 already coupled thereto,are inserted into and nested within the rabbet 205 of the frame 209. Ascan be seen, the fourth horizontal wall 373 d of the mounting portion345 d of the bracket 300 d is trapped between the front surface 214 ofthe backer panel 211 and the display item 210. This acts to maintain thebracket 300 d coupled to the frame apparatus 200 when the stack of theglazing 212 and the backer panel 211 are nested in the rabbet 205. Theflex tabs (not illustrated in this figure) are then pivoted to securethe backer panel 211, the display item 210, and the glazing 212 withinthe rabbet 205. Specifically, the flex tabs will contact the rearsurface 215 of the backer panel 211 to maintain the backer panel 211(and hence also the display item 210 and the glazing 212) within therabbet 205. Due to the bracket 300 being coupled to the backer panel 211in the manner described herein and illustrated in the accompanyingfigures, the bracket 300 is also secured within the rabbet 205 when theflex tabs are pivoted. In FIG. 16C, the over-the-door hanging member 400is coupled to the bracket 300 d by inserting the hooks 461, 462 throughone of the slots 310 d, 311 d and the aperture 313 d of the bracket 300d. The hooks 461, 462 that are coupled to the bracket 300 d within theslots 310 d, 311 d and the aperture 313 d enter into the space 375 dbetween the body portion 340 d of the bracket 300 d and the rear surface215 of the backer panel 211.

When the over-the-door hanging member 400 is mounted to the bracket 300d with the bracket 300 d coupled to the frame apparatus 200 as describedherein, the over-the-door hanging member 400 may then be coupled to atop edge 501 of a door 500 as illustrated in FIG. 17. Specifically, theU-shaped member 458 of the over-the-door hanging member 400 can bemounted over the top edge 501 of the door 500. The elongated body 451 ofthe over-the-door hanging member then hangs down along one of the frontor rear surfaces of the door to a desired hanging height for the hangingapparatus 100, 100 a, 100 b, 100 c. When more than two hooks areprovided on the over-the-door hanging members 400, the hanging height ofthe hanging apparatus 100, 100 a, 100 b, 100 c may be modified/changeddepending on which of the hooks is engaging the bracket 300.

Referring to FIG. 18, as noted above in some embodiments theover-the-door hanging member 400 may not be used. Rather, in someembodiments the bracket 300 may be coupled directly to a screw, nail orother piece hardware 600 that is coupled to and protruding from asupport surface (i.e., a wall, a door, or the like). The hardware 600may be inserted into the slots 310, 311, and the aperture 313.Alternatively and as illustrated, a portion of the bracket 300 that hasa sawtooth configuration may rest on the hardware 600 to hang thehanging apparatus 100, 100 a, 100 b, 100 c.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is tobe understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural andfunctional modifications may be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. Thus, the spirit and scope of the inventionshould be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hanging apparatus comprising: a frame apparatusconfigured to support a display item; a bracket coupled to the frameapparatus, the bracket comprising: a body portion comprising a firstsurface, a second surface, and a peripheral edge extending between thefirst and second surfaces, the peripheral edge comprising a first edgeportion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion extendingbetween the first and second edge portions; a first slot extending fromthe third edge portion towards the second edge portion; and an apertureextending through the body portion from the first surface to the secondsurface, the aperture comprising an entry section and a first nestingsection extending from the entry section towards the second edgeportion; and wherein the first slot and the first nesting section of theaperture are aligned along a first axis that is parallel to the firstedge portion of the peripheral edge.
 2. The hanging apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein the first slot and the first nesting section of theaperture are elongated along the first axis.
 3. The hanging apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the bracket further comprises a second slotextending from the third edge portion towards the first edge portion,and wherein the aperture further comprises a second nesting sectionextending from the entry section towards the first edge portion, andwherein the second slot and the second nesting section of the apertureare aligned along a second axis that is parallel to the second edgeportion of the peripheral edge.
 4. The hanging apparatus according toclaim 3 wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular to oneanother, and wherein the bracket is symmetric about a reference planethat intersects both of the first and second axes at a 45° angle.
 5. Thehanging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an over-the-door hangingmember comprising an elongated body extending from a first end to asecond end and a U-shaped member located at the second end of theelongated body, the elongated body having a front surface, an oppositerear surface, and a first hook and a second hook extending from thefront surface, wherein the first hook is inserted into the first slot ofthe bracket and the second hook is inserted into the aperture of thebracket to mount the over-the-door hanging member to the bracket, andwherein the U-shaped member is configured for mounting to a top edge ofa door to hang the hanging apparatus from the top edge of the door.
 6. Ahanging apparatus comprising: a frame apparatus configured to support adisplay item; a bracket coupled to the frame apparatus, the bracketcomprising: a body portion comprising a first surface, a second surface,and a peripheral edge extending between the first and second surfaces,the peripheral edge comprising a first edge portion, a second edgeportion, and a third edge portion extending between the first and secondedge portions; a first slot extending from the third edge portiontowards the second edge portion and being elongated along a first axis;a second slot extending from the third edge portion towards the firstedge portion and being elongated along a second axis; and wherein thefirst and second axes are perpendicular.
 7. The hanging apparatusaccording to claim 6 wherein the first edge portion extends along afirst edge axis, the second edge portion extends along a second edgeaxis, and the third edge portion comprises a linear section that extendsalong a third edge axis, the third edge axis forming an acute angle witheach of the first and second edge axes, wherein the first and secondedge axes are perpendicular to one another.
 8. The hanging apparatusaccording to claim 6 further comprising an aperture extending throughthe body portion from the first surface to the second surface, theaperture comprising an entry section, a first nesting section extendingfrom the entry section towards the second edge portion, and a secondnesting section extending from the entry section towards the first edgeportion, wherein the first entry section is elongated along the firstaxis and the second entry section is elongated along the second axis. 9.The hanging apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first slotextends from the third edge portion to a terminal edge and the secondslot extends from the third edge portion to a terminal edge, theterminal edge of the first slot being spaced a first distance from theaperture and the terminal edge of the second slot being spaced a seconddistance from the aperture, the first and second distances being thesame.
 10. The hanging apparatus according to claim 8 further comprisingan over-the-door hanging member comprising an elongated body extendingfrom a first end to a second end and a U-shaped member located at thesecond end of the elongated body, the elongated body having a frontsurface, an opposite rear surface, and a first hook and a second hookextending from the front surface, wherein the first hook is insertedinto one of the first and second slots of the bracket and the secondhook is inserted into the aperture of the bracket to mount theover-the-door hanging member to the bracket, and wherein the U-shapedmember is configured for mounting to a top edge of a door to hang thehanging apparatus from the top edge of the door.
 11. The hangingapparatus according to claim 6 wherein a section of the third edgeportion extending between the first and second slots comprises asawtooth configuration.
 12. A bracket for hanging a frame apparatus on asupport surface, the bracket comprising: a body portion comprising afirst surface, a second surface, and a peripheral edge extending betweenthe first and second surfaces, the peripheral edge comprising a firstedge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion; a firstslot extending from the third edge portion towards the second edgeportion; an aperture extending through the body portion from the firstsurface to the second surface, the aperture comprising an entry sectionand a first nesting section extending from the entry section towards thesecond edge portion; and wherein the first slot and the first nestingsection of the aperture are aligned along a first axis that is parallelto the first edge portion of the peripheral edge.
 13. The hangingapparatus according to claim 3 wherein a section of the third edgeportion extending between the first and second slots comprises asawtooth configuration.
 14. The hanging apparatus according to claim 1wherein the first edge portion extends from a first end to a second endand the second edge portion extends from a first end to a second end,the first ends of the first and second edge portions being coupledtogether, and wherein the third edge portion comprises a first linearsection, a second linear section, and a third linear section, the firstlinear section extending orthogonally from the second end of the firstedge portion, the second linear section extending orthogonally from thesecond end of the second edge portion, and the third linear sectionextending between the first and second linear sections.
 15. The hangingapparatus according to claim 14 wherein the third linear section formsan obtuse angle with each of the first and second linear sections. 16.The hanging apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the bracket furthercomprises a second slot extending from the third edge portion towardsthe first edge portion, and wherein each of the first and second slotsis formed into the third linear section of the third edge portion of theperipheral edge.
 17. The hanging apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe first slot extends from the third edge portion to a terminal end,and wherein the terminal end of the first slot is spaced apart from theaperture.
 18. The hanging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theframe apparatus comprises a frame and the bracket comprises a mountingportion extending from the body portion for mounting the bracketdirectly to the frame, and further comprising a groove formed into aninner surface of the frame.
 19. The hanging apparatus according to claim18 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket comprises a vertical wallextending downwardly from each of the first and second edge portions ofthe peripheral edge of the bracket in a direction away from the secondsurface of the bracket and a horizontal wall extending from the verticalwall to a terminal edge in a direction away from the first and secondedge portions, and wherein the horizontal wall of the mounting portionof the bracket nests within the groove to mount the bracket to theframe.
 20. The hanging apparatus according to claim 19 furthercomprising a plurality of ribs protruding from a front surface of thehorizontal wall and extending from the terminal edge of the horizontalwall to the vertical wall.